Seoul calls for 'thorough, transparent' investigation of Navalny's death

Diplomacy

Published: 19 Feb. 2024, 17:38

Seoul calls for 'thorough, transparent' investigation of Navalny's death

Flowers and a photo of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny are placed near the Russian consulate in Frankfurt, Germany, on Saturday, the day after his death was announced by Russian authorities. [AP/YONHAP]

The Korean government broke its radio silence on the reported death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny on Monday.

Calling for a “thorough and transparent investigation” on the death of Navalny, who was a powerful symbol of domestic resistance against President Vladimir Putin, the Foreign Ministry in Seoul issued a short statement mourning his death.

“We mourn the death of Navalny, who fought for Russia's liberal democracy,” it said, adding that an investigation must be conducted regarding his “sudden death.”

The statement was issued in response to local press inquiries.

It came three days after the reported death of Navalny last Friday and days after leaders in the United States and Europe openly condemned Putin and his regime.

“Putin is responsible for Navalny’s death,” U.S. President Joe Biden said in a press conference he hosted within hours of the first reports on Navalny’s death last Friday.

Leaders of the European Union echoed the condemnation in their joint statement, also issued the same day, as did the foreign ministers of the Group of 7 countries in another statement issued Saturday.

“He was slowly murdered by President Putin and his regime, who fear nothing more than dissent from their own people,” said Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, in a statement last Friday.

The tone of the Korean government’s most recent statement on Russia departed from others issued in recent years that walked a fine line between condemnation and maintaining the status quo.

Even after the Bucha massacre in Ukraine in March 2022, the Foreign Ministry in Seoul issued a statement expressing “serious concerns” over the killing of civilians “reported by the Ukrainian government” but did not once mention Russia.

Korea also restricts aid to Ukraine to humanitarian assistance only, a point apparently appreciated by Russian officials.

However, following reports of military cooperation between North Korea and Russia last October, the South Korean government began issuing more assertive statements, even engaging in a war of words with Russian officials over remarks about the South Korean president.

Navalny was known for his frank criticism of Putin, for which he endured frequent attacks.

He suffered antiseptic dye attacks in 2017 and a severe poison attack in 2020 and was imprisoned since 2021.

Even in prison, he criticized the regime through social media.

Russian authorities announced on Feb. 16 that Navalny had died at a remote prison in the Arctic.

He was 47 years old. He is survived by his wife, Yulia and two children.

His family accused the prison authorities of constantly refusing Navalny necessary medical care.

The last court video of Navalny, reportedly shot the day before his death, showed him seemingly in good health.

His body has not been released to his family as of Sunday.

BY ESTHER CHUNG, PARK HYUN-JU [chung.juhee@joongang.co.kr]